NEW Rossendale United boss Derek Egan insisted he couldn't pass up the opportunity to return to management when the Dark Lane club came calling.

The former Ramsbottom manager stepped down at the end of last season due to work commitments after building up a solid, young squad at the Riverside.

But Egan said the pull of presiding over a UniBond League club was too strong to turn down.

"I'm like a kid near Christmas at the minute," said Egan, who has taken the Dale hoseat following the sacking of Mark Molyneatowux on Saturday.

"I missed not being involved right at the beginning but, as time went on, I got used to the idea and went out to watch a lot of games.

"But when the chance came to get involved at Rossendale I jumped at it.

"It's a level higher than what I was managing at with Ramsbottom, but it's another step in the right direction in terms of leagues."

He added: "It will be different. Different experiences throw different problems up, and dealing with those is interesting and a good part of being a manager at a non-league club.

"I tend to think I learned a lot at Ramsbottom which will hopefully help me to deal with situations that might come up."

Egan admits his first aim is to avoid relegation as he takes over a side languishing four places from the bottom of the UniBond First Division.

He is also keen to drag the Stags out of the doldrums at Dark Lane.

"The first priority is to stay up, but we also want to provide some entertaining football," he said.

"They haven't had a good home record for the last couple of seasons. They have only won once at home this year, so that's been a problem.

"We do need to start picking up more points at home."

Egan also hopes to establish a squad mixed with youth and experience, and last night saw for the first time the players he has to work with at his inaugural training session.

"There are likely to be some fresh faces sooner rather than later," he said.

"But there is a massive squad at Rossendale with players who, when you start looking at their pedigree, have been underachieving.

"There are players there with big reputations in non-league."

Egan is joined at Dark Lane by former Wales and Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Dave Felgate, who was Brent Peters' player-coach at North West Counties League neighbours Bacup Borough.